Form with detachable card, substrate and multilayer material, and process for producing such a form

ABSTRACT

This invention concerns a form ( 1 ) which has an integrated card ( 3 ) which can be detached from it. A substrate material ( 2 ) is glued to the back of the form at least partly covering the area of the card ( 3 ). This substrate material ( 2 ) has both a substrate layer ( 21 ) and a peeling adhesive layer ( 22 ) which loses its stickiness upon being detached. The card ( 3 ) is a punched product which is held in the form ( 1 ) by the substrate layer ( 21 ). The peeling adhesive layer ( 22 ) has its normal properties with respect to the substrate layer ( 21 )—when separated from it upon detaching the card ( 3 ), it ( 22 ) stays with the card ( 3 ). As the surface layer of the detached card ( 3 ), it can be written or printed upon, even if the back of the card is plasticized by a film ( 23 ) embedded in the substrate material. The writing or imprint can no longer easily be modified through the peeling adhesive layer ( 22 ). This makes the card considerably more tamper-proof than earlier cards. Designing the card as a luggage tag is an interesting application. The invention also concerns a substrate material ( 2 ) or a completely integrated multilayer material for a form ( 1 ) of the preciously described kind as well as a process for production.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns a form with a detachable card, asubstrate material being glued to the back of the form, which substratematerial at least partly covers the area of the card and comprises botha substrate layer and a peeling adhesive layer which loses itsstickiness upon being detached, and the card being a punched productwhich is held in the form by the substrate layer and is produced by apunching carried out from the front of the form as far as the substratelayer.

Finally, the invention also concerns a substrate material and amultilayer material for forms of the type referred to above as well as aproduction process.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

A form of the type referred to above is known, for example, fromWO95/20493. In that case, the peeling adhesive layer has its typicalproperties with respect to the card. This means that the peelingadhesive layer develops a permanent adhesive effect with respect to thesubstrate layer but a non-permanent adhesive effect with respect to thecard. The card can be detached from the form free from adhesive, thepeeling adhesive layer remaining on the substrate layer. Since the cardis not sticky, it can be used, for example, as an identity card or thelike. A further property of the known peeling adhesive layer is that,after detaching the card, it no longer sticks where it is exposed. Theform can therefore be subsequently used further and, for example, alsobe filed.

An important requirement for identity cards and also other cards is thatthey can be written or printed on and, as a result, once the form hasbeen produced, it is possible, for example, to apply personal data. Itis also intended that such writing or such an imprint cannot besubsequently changed, at least not easily, in particular in the case ofidentity cards, in the sense of a certain tamper-proof security.

It is customary to provide in the substrate material, before the peelingadhesive layer and the substrate layer as seen in the punchingdirection, also at least one permanent pressure-sensitive adhesive layerand an outer layer, for which at least one film is used. The rearsurface of the detached card is plastified if a film is used and in thisway is advantageously protected against moisture and other influences.There is generally also a similar outer layer on the front of the card.What is disadvantageous, however, about plastifying is that it isscarcely possible any longer to write or print onto the card after itsremoval. Although it is known in principle to make it possible forsmooth film surfaces to be written or printed on by applying a specialcoating, such a coating would require at least an expensive, separateoperation. With the coatings commonly used, moreover, there would be thedifficulty of integrating them in a peeling adhesive system of the typereferred to above, since all the currently known peeling adhesivesdevelop a permanent adhesive effect with respect to said coatings, whichwould not allow nondestructive detachment of the cards.

It is known from the aforementioned WO95/204932 to make it possible towrite on the back of the card by punching out a window in the substratelayer from the back and providing the film surface exposed in saidwindow with a matt finish. However, additional operations are alsonecessary for this. Since the window is necessarily smaller than thecard, the latter also cannot be written on over its full surface area.

It is known from forms with detachable self-adhesive labels (compare forexample WO95/05281) to provide instead of a peeling adhesive layer apressure-sensitive adhesive layer with a permanent adhesive effect onboth sides and to use a silicone-treated release paper as the substratelayer. As a result, when the label is detached the pressure-sensitiveadhesive layer comes away from the release paper and stays with thelabel. Since it is the intended purpose of self-adhesive labels to beable to be adhesively attached again, the pressure-sensitive adhesivemust not lose its stickiness when the label is detached from the form.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to specify a form of the type ref erredto at the beginning in which the back of the card can be written orprinted on over its full surface area after detaching the card, in whichthe writing or imprint cannot be easily changed subsequently, in which aseparate precoating of, for example, an outer or reinforcing film usedis not required and in which both the rear surface of the card and thesurface exposed in the form by detaching the card no longer stick afterdetaching the card.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a form having thefeatures specified in patent claim 1.

Whenever the back of the card is formed by a film, i.e. if a film isused for the form material or an additional outer layer contained in thesubstrate material, said film can be written and printed on through thepeeling adhesive layer according to the invention on the detached card.The peeling adhesive layer according to the invention consequently has adual function, making it unnecessary for the film surface to be coatedin an additional and expensive operation (assuming that a coatingsuitable for this could be found in the first place).

A further advantageous property of the peeling adhesive layer accordingto the invention is that it is scarcely possible for writing or animprint applied to it to be changed subsequently. This is so inparticular in the case in which the back of the card is formed by apaper material. The card detached from the form according to theinvention and then written on is consequently tamper-proof to anincreased extent. In the case where the back of the card is of paper, itis virtually plastified by the peeling adhesive layer according to theinvention and given water-repellent properties even without the use of afilm.

The following composition may be chosen for the peeling adhesive of thepeeling adhesive layer:

 70-90% mixture of an ethylene-containing copolymer, a copolymeric ethylacetate dispersion, an acrylic resin copolymer and a polyvinyl acetatepolymer,    3-5% aliphatic polyester urethane acrylate 1.5-2.5%2-acrylic acid, 2-(((butylamino)carbonyl)oxy)ethylester,   12-18%modified anionic pure acrylate copolymer emulsion,    0-1.5% wettingagent, and 0.5-1.5% aliphatic polyfunctional isocyanurate.

The main component of the peeling adhesive formulation, the mixture ofan ethylene-containing copolymer, an ethyl acetate dispersion, anacrylic resin copolymer and a polyvinyl acetate polymer, produces theactual peeling properties of the peeling adhesive. The adhesive force ofthis adhesive assumes a certain value, and the layer can be peeled offin a smooth, noiseless way and without leaving any residue. Thepolyvinyl acetate polymer, as the best re-emulsifiable and mostwater-sensitive component, makes it possible for the film to be printedon, in particular with ink-jet inks. The aliphatic polyester urethaneacrylate increases the elasticity and water resistance of the film andimproves the film strength as well as the anchorage on plastic surfaces.The substance 2-acrylic acid, 2-(((butylamino)carbonyl)oxy)ethylesterserves as an addition to the aliphatic polyester urethane acrylate.Reactive groups present, such as amino or carbonyl groups for example,react simultaneously with pigments, which make possible a smudge-prooffixing of ink-jet inks, even if there is subsequent water contact of thefilm surface. The pure acrylate copolymer emulsion increases the filmcohesion and closes its surface, which prevents excessive clouding ofthe film on contact with water. The wetting agent reduces the surfacetension and consequently influences the rheology of the wet film and thewetting of the dry film by ink-jet inks in a positive sense. Thealiphatic polyfunctional isocyanurate crosslinks the individualcomponents and, like the aliphatic polyester urethane acrylate as well,improves the adhesion of the film on the substrate film. Thecrosslinking likewise increases the film hardness and resistance.

The peeling adhesive composition referred to above is particularly wellsuited for use in connection with polyester films, it being possible forsuch a film to be used both for the substrate layer and for the outerlayer. The different adhesive effect with respect to the substrate layeron the one hand (non-permanent) and the outer layer on the other hand(permanent) can in this case be achieved by suitable process controland/or different pretreatment of the film surfaces on both sides. Forexample, a permanent adhesion of the peeling adhesive according to theinvention on the film used for the outer layer can be achieved by aplasma, corona or flame treatment of this film, whereas the same peelingadhesive develops only a non-permanent adhesion with respect to thesame, but untreated film. A differentiated adhesive effect can also beachieved by means of different types of film. For example, a peelingadhesive of the above composition adheres more weakly to a polypropylenefilm than to a polyester film. Different films could of courseadditionally undergo a different surface pretreatment.

The peeling adhesive layer according to the invention can be printed onby the commonly used printing processes, such as by a laser or ink-jetprinter and a typewriter for example, and can be written on by hand witha fountain pen, a ballpoint pen, an indelible pen or a pencil.

Interesting possible applications for the form according to theinvention are obtained if the card is designed as a tag. When sendingtravel documents to their customers, as a special service travelagencies often enclose tags which can be attached by the customers totheir baggage, for example to a case. The tags are also often alreadywritten on by the travel agency, with not only the name and address ofthe customer but also further information, such as destination, flightnumber, hotel or the like, printed on the tag. However, some of the tagsused are of a complex design and therefore expensive, unnecessarilybulky or heavy and, as a result, difficult to send, or in any eventcannot be written on without additional effort and additional equipment.

By contrast, a form of the type according to the lip invention with acard designed as a tag can be used by the travel agency directly for theletter or cover letter to the customer, on which the tag is written onin the same operation as that in which the letter is produced andprinted out, for example on a computer printer. The tag then does notrequire any additional actions to be carried out on the part of thetravel agency. Tags also do not have to be separately obtained andstored any longer.

In comparison with known tags, the tag integrated in the form accordingto the invention is much more cost-effective. There are likewise noadditional problems during sending, in particular the item sent to thecustomer is made virtually no heavier nor bulkier by the integrated tag.The use of film outer layers makes it possible to ensure that the tag isadequately stable, tear-resistant and also moisture-resistant. Claim 16concerns a process for producing a form of the type according to theinvention. Use of a substrate material according to claim 17 or a fullyintegrated multilayer material according to claim 18 allows forms of thetype according to the invention to be produced particularly efficiently.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is to be explained in more detail below on the basis ofexemplary embodiments in connection with the drawing, in which:

FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b) show a sectioned representation a first, preferredembodiment of a form sheet according to the invention;

FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b) show a sectioned representation a simplifiedembodiment, in which no film outer layers are provided;

FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b) show a sectioned representation an embodiment withdoubled layers of the film material;

FIG. 4 shows in plan view a form according to the invention withintegrated tag;

FIG. 5 shows the same form in section (section I—I);

FIG. 6 shows a representation corresponding to FIG. 5, but with detachedtag;

FIG. 7 shows in plan view a form according to the invention withintegrated tag according to FIG. 4 as well as additional control cards;and

FIG. 8 shows in plan view a form according to the invention withintegrated tag of a different shape.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In FIG. 1, 1 denotes a form sheet made of paper, on which any desiredinformation, a specimen or the like can be printed on one or both sides.2 denotes a piece of a substrate material, which comprises a substratelayer 21, a peeling adhesive layer 22, an outer layer 23 and a permanentpressure-sensitive adhesive layer 24. The substrate material is glued tothe back of the form by means of the permanent pressure-sensitiveadhesive layer 24. A piece of a covering material 4, which likewisecomprises an outer layer 41 and a permanent pressure-sensitive adhesivelayer 42, is provided on the front of the form. The two outer layers 23and 41 are transparent plastic films, in particular polyester films,through which any imprint on the form sheet 1 in the area of the card 3can be seen. The outer layers serve for stiffening the card 3 and lendit a water-repellent and abrasion-resistant surface.

From the front of the form sheet 1, as illustrated by the arrows 31 inFIG. 1a), a punching which is preferably continuous, i.e. running allthe way around without intermittent material, is carried out within thesurface area of the substrate material 2, penetrating all the layers 41,42, 1, 24, 23 and 22 and reaching down as far as the substrate layer 21.The punching has the effect of cutting out from the form sheet 1 apunched product, the card 3, which no longer has any connection with thesurrounding material of the form sheet 1 and is held in the form sheet 1merely by the substrate layer 21 not punched through in this operation.

According to the invention, the peeling adhesive of the layer 22 isadjusted in such a way that the card 3 is on the one hand heldsufficiently firmly and securely in the form sheet 1, i.e. is notprematurely detached when the form sheet 1 is handled in the wayintended or else automatically processed, but on the other hand iseasily detachable from the sheet 1. During detaching of the card 3, thepeeling adhesive 22 is completely detached from the substrate layer 21and stays with the card. The peeling adhesive layer 22 has to thisextent a non-permanent adhesive effect with respect to the substratematerial 21 and a permanent adhesive effect with respect to the materialof the outer layer 23. FIG. 1b) shows the form with the detached card 3,which bears the peeling adhesive layer 22 on the back. The detachmentfrom the substrate material 21 has, however, caused this layer to loseits stickiness, so that the card 3 is not self-adhesive. The no longersticky peeling adhesive layer can be written or printed on by means ofthe commonly used writing implements or printing processes.

The substrate material 2 is preferably prefabricated completely as suchand then applied as a whole to the back of the form. This is much morecost-effective than applying the individual layers one after the other.The substrate material may, in particular, be supplied to the formmanufacturer as an endless material in roll form by a film manufactureror film finisher specializing in this respect. Since the uppermost layer24 is a permanent pressure-sensitive adhesive layer, it is of advantageto take special measures in order that the substrate material 2 can berolled up on itself. Such a measure is, for example, a rear releasecoating of the substrate layer 21 by means of an applied layer ofsilicone. Such a layer is denoted in FIG. 1 by 25. Alternatively, thesubstrate material 2 could initially also be provided with an additionallayer of release paper, which would however become scrap duringproduction of the forms. This technique is suitable in particular forthe covering material 4 on the front of the form, which can then also beprefabricated and applied as a whole. Finally, it would also be possibleto integrate all the layers, including the form material itself, in asingle, uniformly constructed multilayer material in endless form, inwhich all the layers are of the same size. The material according toFIG. 4, still to be described in detail later, could, for example, besuch a multilayer material. The [lacuna] produced from such a materialwould have a uniform thickness over their entire surface area and, as aresult, be particularly suitable for further processing, for example insingle-sheet printers.

FIG. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment in which, in comparison with FIG.1, the two outer layers 23 and 41 as well as the permanentpressure-sensitive layer 42 underneath the front outer layer 41 havebeen omitted. The peeling adhesive layer according to the invention isin direct contact here with the permanent pressure-sensitive adhesivelayer 24. Although in fact functionally unnecessary in the finishedform, the permanent pressure-sensitive adhesive layer 24 has beenintentionally left in order that the substrate material 2 as a whole canagain be prefabricated. Without the permanent pressure-sensitiveadhesive layer 24, the peeling adhesive of the peeling adhesive layer 22would have to be applied in the wet state to the back of the form. Bothadhesive layers are detached from the substrate layer 21 duringdetaching of the card 3 and stay with the latter. Although in the caseof this embodiment it would be possible to write or print directly ontothe back of the card even without the adhesive layers, the coating withthe two adhesive layers is nevertheless of advantage, since writing oran imprint applied to them can subsequently be changed again only withdifficulty. The adhesive also additionally gives the surface of the cardfilm-like properties, i.e. it acts plastified.

In FIG. 3, to stiffen the card 3 the layer structure from FIG. 2 in thesubstrate material 2 has been supplemented by a self-supporting layer 28made of the form material as well as by a permanent pressure-sensitiveadhesive layer 27. The layer 28 may be printed on in the same operationas the form sheet on a secondary path.

The peeling adhesive of the peeling adhesive layer preferably has thefollowing composition in % by weight:

77% mixture of an ethylene-containing copolymer, a copolymeric ethylacetate dispersion, an acrylic resin copolymer and a polyvinyl acetatepolymer,  4% aliphatic polyester urethane acrylate,  2% 2-acrylic acid,2-(((butylarnino)carbonyl)oxy)ethylester, 15% modified anionic pureacrylate copolymer emulsion, wetting agent, and aliphatic polyfunctionalisocyanurate.

Epotal 181 D from BASF AG may be used, for example, as theethylene-containing copolymer and Vinnapas EP 16 from Wacker Chemie AGcan be used as the copolymeric ethyl

Vinnapas AF 75 comes into consideration, for example, for the acrylicresin copolymer and Vinnapas Z 50 may be used, for example, as thepolyvinyl acetate polymer.

The aliphatic polyester urethane acrylate serves as an adhesion promoteron the film surface and improves film properties such as elasticity andwater resistance. The substance 2-(((butylamino)carbonyl)oxy)ethylesterhas, inter alia, the effect of making it possible to emulsify thealiphatic polyester urethane acrylate and fix ink pigments in the film.

A suitable modified anionic pure acrylate copolymer emulsion can beobtained from Zeneca Resins under the trade name NeoCryl.

An aqueous solution of a fully or partially saponified polyvinyl alcoholor a commercially available standard product is preferably used as thewetting agent.

In FIG. 4, a form sheet, which may have a customary letter format forexample, is again denoted by 1. However, only the upper part of it isrepresented. A substrate material glued to the back of the form sheetand a covering material glued to its front are indicated by theinterrupted lines. In the form, a punched product 3 in the form of a tagis punched out by a punching (punched line 31 running all the way aroundwithout intermittent material). The punched product or tag 3 has a labelpart 5 and a loop part 6. The label part 5 is advantageously arranged onthe form sheet 1 in the customary address area, so that, when an addressis printed on, the tag is written on in the same operation. The looppart 6 is provided at its free end with a widening 7, which is intendedto be inserted into an insert slot 8 in the label part 5 and hook in it.A further punching clearance is denoted by 9 alongside the right-handedge of the label part 5 of the tag 3. The punched product has alreadybeen detached here, however, so that the edge mentioned is exposed andcan be easily picked up with a finger or a fingernail. The punchingclearance 9 consequently forms a kind of removal aid. The multilayerconstruction of the form from FIG. 4 can be seen along the sectionalline I—I in FIG. 5. From top to bottom, the following layers arepresent: an outer layer comprising film 41, a permanentpressure-sensitive adhesive layer 42, the actual form material 1, afurther permanent pressure-sensitive adhesive layer 24, a further outerlayer comprising film 23, a peeling adhesive layer 22 which can bewritten on, of the type previously described, and finally a substratelayer 21. For the purpose of being able to be written or printed on, thefilm 41 may be specially coated. An additional release layer on the backof the substrate layer has been dispensed with here.

As represented by the correspondingly denoted arrows, the punching 31for producing the tag 3 in the form sheet 1 is made from the front ofthe form as far as the substrate layer 22, which itself is unharmed,i.e. is not punched through in the same operation. The tag 3 is held inthe form sheet 1 by means of the continuous substrate layer 21.

The punching clearance 9 for producing a removal aid is likewise made asfar as the depth of the substrate layer 21, but a gripping-through hole,through which it is possible for a finger to grip behind the edge of thetag 3, could be punched out equally well. Incisions or perforation lineswhich allow or facilitate exposure of a tag edge or a gripping zone bythe user only directly before removal of the tag could also be providedon their own or in addition.

FIG. 6 shows the form 1 with detached tag 3. The separation in themultilayer material has taken place between the peeling adhesive layer15 and the substrate layer 21 and the peeling adhesive has stayed withthe tag 3. The peeling-adhesive layer 15 consequently again has itstypical properties (non-permanent adhesive effect) with respect to thesubstrate layer 21. The rear side of the detached tag 3 can be writtenon through the peeling adhesive layer.

In the example of FIG. 7, cards 51 and 52, which like the tag 3 can bedetached from the form and can be advantageously used for furtherpurposes, for example as control or identity cards, have beenadditionally punched out respectively on both sides of the loop part 6in the case of a tag 3 according to FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 [sic] also shows a tag 3 in which the loop part 6 is bent backtoward the label part 5. Notches 53 are provided behind the widening 7at the free end of the loop part 4. The insert slot 8 in the label part5 is of an arcuate design. This design allows the widened end 7 of theloop part 4 to be easily inserted into the insert slot 6 and it is thenhooked particularly effectively in [lacuna].

In all the figures, which show sectional illustrations of formsaccording to the invention, the thicknesses of the layers are notrepresented to scale but greatly exaggerated for the purpose of betterclarity.

In cases in which it is desired that the card (or a tag) can be printedon as long as it is still integrated in the form, this can be madepossible on a partial surface area of the card by punching out a hole inthe substrate layer 21.

What is claimed is:
 1. Form (1) with a detachable card (3), a substratematerial (2) being glued to the back of the form, which substratematerial at least partly covers the area of the card (3) and comprisesboth a substrate layer (21) and a peeling adhesive layer (22) whichloses its stickiness upon being detached, and the card (3) being apunched product which is held in the form (1) by the substrate layer(21) and is produced by a punching carried out from the front of theform as far as the substrate layer (21), characterized in that thepeeling adhesive layer (22) develops a permanent adhesive effect withrespect to the card (3) but a non-permanent adhesive effect with respectto the substrate layer (21) and can be directly written or printed on asa surface layer of the detached card (3).
 2. Form according to claim 1,characterized in that the substrate material (2) additionally has beforethe peeling adhesive layer (22) and the substrate layer (21), as seen inthe punching direction, a first permanent pressure-sensitive adhesivelayer (24) and a first outer layer (23).
 3. Form according to claim 1 or2, characterized in that the substrate material (2) has as the last,outermost layer, as seen in the punching direction, a release layer(25).
 4. Form according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that acovering material (4), which covers the area of the card (3) and has asecond outer layer (41) and a second permanent pressure-sensitiveadhesive layer (42), is glued to the front of the form.
 5. Formaccording to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that paper or filmis used as the material for the form (1), the outer layer(s) (23, 41)and/or the substrate layer (21), to be precise paper is preferably usedfor the form and film is preferably used for the outer layer(s) and thesubstrate layer.
 6. Form according to claim 2, characterized in that thematerial for the outer layer(s) (23, 41) and/or the substrate layer (21)is transparent.
 7. Form according to one of claims 1, 2 or 6,characterized in that the punching (31) is carried out such that it runsall the way around without leaving intermediate material.
 8. Formaccording to one of claims 1, 2 or 6, characterized in that the peelingadhesive of the peeling adhesive layer (21) has the followingcomposition in % by weight: 70-90%, preferably 77%, of [sic] a mixtureof an ethylene-containing copolymer, a copolymeric ethyl acetatedispersion, an acrylic resin copolymer and a polyvinyl acetate polymer;3-5%, preferably 4%, aliphatic polyester urethane acrylate; 1.5-2.5%,preferably 2%, 2-acrylic acid, 2-(((butylamino)carbonyl)oxy)ethylester;12-18%, preferably 15%, modified anionic pure acrylate copolymeremulsion; 0-1.5%, preferably 1%, wetting agent; and 0.5-1.5%, preferably1%, aliphatic polyfunctional isocyanurate.
 9. Form according to one ofclaims 1, 2, or 6, characterized in that the card (3) is designed as atag for cases or the like.
 10. Form according to claim 9, characterizedin that the tag (3) has a label part (5) and a loop part (6), the looppart is provided at its free end with a widening (7) and an insert slot(8) for this end is provided in the label part.
 11. Form according toclaim 10, characterized in that the loop part (6) of the tag (3) is of astraight design.
 12. Form according to claim 10, characterized in thatthe loop part (6) of the tag (3) is designed such that it is bent backtoward the label part (5) of the latter.
 13. Form according to of claim10, characterized in that the insert slot (8) in the label part (5) ofthe tag (3) is bent and notches (53) are provided on both sides behindthe widening (7) at the free end of the loop part (6) of the tag. 14.Form according to claim 9, characterized in that additional, integratedand detachable cards (51, 52) are punched out preferably alongside thetag (3).
 15. Form according to claim 9, characterized in that, for thepurpose of producing a removal aid (9), one edge of the tag is exposed,or can be exposed before detaching the latter, by at least oneadditional punching or least one additional incision.
 16. Process forproducing a form according to one of claims 1, 2 or 6, characterized inthat the surfaces with which the peeling adhesive layer (22) in thesubstrate material (2) is in contact are subjected to differentpretreatments by a plasma, corona or a flame treatment for achieving adifferentiated adhesive effect.
 17. Substrate material (2), formedaccording to one of claims 1, 2 or
 6. 18. Multilayer material comprisingall the layers of a form according to one of claims 1, 2 or 6, all thelayers being of the same size.